Dog's shooting pits family vs. family

PITTSTON TWP. - The shooting death of a German shepherd in a residential section of Pittston Twp. has stirred up tensions among neighbors, and police are considering criminal charges against the shooter.

Some neighbors and the dog owner say the shooting was reckless, unnecessary and possibly premeditated.

Family of the shooter, Arthur Menichini, 43, say the animal was a menace for years and the shooting was in self-defense.

The incident unfolded on the lawn of a Lewis Street residence the afternoon of April 23, the culmination of a dispute between two families over violent encounters involving their dogs.

"There has been a lot of tension in the neighborhood about this," said Brian Dowd, 20, whose yard was the scene of the shooting. "It was a friendly dog, I thought. Maybe a little territorial, but it never attacked my dog. It's a shame what happened."

While walking his mother's dog, Coco, Mr. Menichini shot the German shepherd twice with a handgun, according to Pittston Twp. police. The dog, Keira, died from gunshots to the head and neck, police said.

Coco, a medium-size mixed breed, is owned by Cathy Menichini of 168 Oak St. She said Keira was "vicious" and had mauled her dog at least five times, leaving her with more than $3,000 in veterinary bills.

Keira was owned by Marianne Zelonis of Rear 164 Oak St., which is behind the Menichini home, police said.

The shooting occurred directly across from Ms. Zelonis' home in Mr. Dowd's yard, which is on Lewis Street.

Pittston Twp. Police Chief Stephen Rinaldi said his department will likely charge Mr. Menichini, of Walsh Street, with discharging a firearm in public and disorderly conduct. Mr. Menichini was legally carrying the gun because he has a concealed-weapons permit, Chief Rinaldi said.

In addition, police are working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County to determine if animal cruelty charges are warranted.

"There's going to be some movement on this, it's just a matter of time. We want to assure people that the case is not over, done and gone. The likelihood is there will be (cruelty) charges filed," said Vince Sweeney, executive director of the local SPCA. "It's not common to come across an animal that has been shot and killed."

Mr. Menichini's mother last week defended her son's actions. Mrs. Menichini said he was taking Coco for a walk minutes after getting home from the veterinarian, who had removed stitches from the dog's stomach related to a previous mauling by Keira. She said Keira got loose and attacked her dog again.

"She (Ms. Zelonis) is trying to say he did it on purpose. He didn't do it on purpose," Mrs. Menichini said. "He didn't know if the dog was going to turn on him."

Efforts to reach Ms. Zelonis were unsuccessful.

Mrs. Menichini said her son has been advised not to talk about the case. There were no witnesses, police said.

Mrs. Menichini said her family is composed of dog lovers. She displayed her husband's 2003 obituary, in which the family asked for memorial donations to be sent to the SPCA of Luzerne County.

The families have lived near each other for decades and have always owned dogs that played with each other, Mrs. Menichini said.

"We've been friends forever. There was never a problem until this dog. We always had dogs. She did, too. This is the first dog that's been a problem," Mrs. Menichini said. "This dog was vicious."

Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

Write your comment here

Your name

Word verification

Type in the characters you see in the picture below. If you have trouble reading the characters in the picture, click it to see a new one.

I have read and accepted the website's terms for commenting

19 posted comments

I love dogs. In fact I own a beautiful German Shepherd myself. The deceased dog was obviously away from its own yard, without it's owner, and not on a leash. I'd have shot the dog myself, had it threatened me and my dog. The dog's owner should be up on charges if anyone should.

As a neighbor I know for a fact that Mrs Menichini reported to the dog warden and other authorities. The german shepherd should have been controlled but never was. I actually think the dog warden was at Zelonis house about this dog. As for the comments made that Menichini should have been walking his dog pass Zelonis house no maybe Zelonis should have had her dog leashed and it would have ever happened. I actually think that the german sheperd was not out at the time that Menichini took his dog out. Its very unfortunate what happen and 2 famlies are at odds but if the authorties took control after the first reprted attack this may have not happened. I think the paper should get the pictures of Menichini dog and publish it. What would the people be saying if it was a human or if another animal was killed by this German Shepherd??

The owner of the German Shepherd should not have allowed this dog to continuously get loose in the neighborhood. Where is the responsibility? Also, I was wondering if the owner of the property on which the dog was shot can file charges against the shooter, or against the Shepherd owner, for trespassing? I would not want someone coming onto my property and shooting another neighbor's dog.

Why was this violent animal with a history of attacking other dogs allowed to be outside to begin with unsupervised. I beleive he was totally justified in shooting the mutt if it threatened him or the dog he was walking. The owner of the viloent dog is the one who should be charged with neglegence and not securing a violent animal. Good riddance

There is a leash law in Pa. If a dog is running towards anyone or their domesticated pet they have a right to protect themselves. I feel that the dog that got shot was unfortunate however if the owner had it under control this would have not have happened. Kudos for the right to bear arms.

It is telling when Mrs. Menichini says "He didnt know if the dog was going to turn on him." This clearly indicates pre-emptive action. Why were other attacks not reported? Sounds like either revenge or some boy with a toy he cant wait to use(and an unhealthy cruel, angry streak). Or both.

If anything the owner of the German sheperd should have been arrested when the first incident happened. These shootings are ocurring because people are sick of living in fear of thier neigbors dogs. I know of four incidents in my neighborhood in scranton were children where mauled severly by dogs. Dogs in my neigborhood control what time you get up' what time you go to sleep and if you can open your window on a hot day. This is due to constant barking. By the way there are 14 dogs on one block. I feel there needs to be strict laws that animal owners need to obey. When dogs have more rights then humans and people have to die or be disfigured before anything is done is outrageous. I also feel if a vicious dog attacks someone the owner should be charged. there is no difference between a vicious dog or a gun they are both deadly weapons

Mr Menichini should not have been walking past Keira's house with his dog if it had been attacked before. The fact that he did so and brought a gun shows that he was looking for truoble....I hope The SPCA and the police act accordingly

The dog warden, SPCA and the police were called on more than one of the attacks by Kiera. The dog warden said that there was nothing he could do because the dog didn't attack a human. But I see according to the law listed below, it would seem that the dog warden was neglient in his job. I guess it was too much paperwork for him and I guess the SPCA would prefer to have dogs like this roaming our streets. This way when things like this happen, they get some publicity.

As for D's comment, were you face to face with the attacking dog, doesn't sound like it.

Mike, as you noticed with this article it was all one sided of course someone would defend themselves saying the dog was vicious. But if you truly read this story there are serious holes in it. For instance if your dog is attacked six times why type of "dog lover" are you if you don't report it? This sounds like a malicious act and I hope they throw the book at this guy for this heinous act.

I completly agree with D's comments. If this dog had attaacked the other dog before why was it never reported to animal control. I know when my dog was attacked by another dog a report was made for the simple fact my vet need to know if this other animal was up to date on his shots, so she knew what preventive measures to take in the care of my animal. Why I also ask would you walk your animal near the home of the owner of the animal who had attacked your dog. I belive the article stated that the owner of the animal that was shot lived behind the home of the shooter? I think this man set out to shot this dog and now that he has been caught he is trying to cover himself by blaming the other dog!

(A) LEGAL TO KILL CERTAIN DOGS.-- Any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing or wounding or killing any domestic animal, wounding or killing other dogs, cats or household pets, or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings, whether or not such a dog bears the license tag required by the provisions of this act. There shall be no liability on such persons in damages or otherwise for such killing.

Also stated:

ARTICLE V-A. DANGEROUS DOGS3 P.S. § 459-502-A (2001) § 459-502-A. Registration(A) SUMMARY OFFENSE OF HARBORING A DANGEROUS DOG.-- Any person who has been attacked by one or more dogs, or anyone on behalf of such person, a person whose domestic animal has been killed or injured without provocation, the State dog warden or the local police officer may file a complaint before a district justice, charging the owner or keeper of such a dog with harboring a dangerous dog. The owner or keeper of the dog shall be guilty of the summary offense of harboring a dangerous dog if the district justice finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the following elements of the offense have been proven:

(1) The dog has done one or more of the following: (i) Inflicted severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property.(ii) Killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner's property. (iii) Attacked a human being without provocation. (iv) Been used in the commission of a crime. (2) The dog has either or both of the following:

This dog attacked how many times??The owner never attempted to control her dogMy only question in how many more attacks or how long before it attacked a human.I had a dog that was food aggressive; it was fine except when it was eating. My family learned not to go by the dog when it was eating until one night my wife tried to get the dog out of my kid room and the dog turned on my wife and bite her on the arm. I do not condone what he did but he did act within the law.

I had my dog attacked by an Akita when I lived up North. The woman's home owners insurance paid all my poor dog's medical bills and, despite the fact that the dog had attacked other dogs in the neighborhood, I didn't take it upon myself to pop the dog between the eyes with bullet! Sorry, this act is not justified in any way, shape, or form. If this dog was so vicious, why not call animal control and report it?

This guy had to go nd shoot this dog because it came after him.. Now it says in the report that they have about $3000 dollars of vet bills from earlier incidents and the shepard had mauled her dog at least five times.. Why wasnt this reported the FIRST TIME. Not 6 times later you shoot the dog. Thats uncalled for. If someones dog attacked mine you better bet i would be going after the owners for the bills.. The first time not wait 6 times and then shoot it. This guy should be charged and they should take his gun and permit off him. I am also a PA conceled permit holder. What if one of them bulllets bounced off the ground or something else and hit a human, then what. This guy should get everything he has coming to him.

I just strikes me odd, that the man is out with his dog, yet needed his handgun for protection. Sounds a bit pre-meditated. Charges will get filed, the animal cruelty personnel are VERY thorough in the investigations they make.

From information presented I hope Mr. Menichini defends himself against any charges brought against him in court. This is an unfortunate incident but the owner of the German Sheperd is entirely to blame. Had the dog been controlled, contained, or supervised, this would not have happened. Law Enforcement and Mr. Sweeney need to simply tell Ms. Zelonis she is to blame and the matter will not be pursued any further and stop swaying to the pressure of a distressed family.

Think you have the cutest pet in NEPA? Share a photo of your furry companion and you could win prizes from our sponsors! Deadline to submit an entry is March 19, and voting will take place from March 20-March 31.